iOS apps have been headed to Android in droves this past year, but there’s one app that manages to maintain its comfortable spot as an exclusive on Apple devices. Despite how badly consumers want it to cross the line. That app is the ever-popular Instagram. And thankfully, it’s exclusivity period is almost at an end.

Proud winner of the Apple iPhone app of the year, Instagram needs practically no introduction. But just in case you’ve been living under a rock this past year, Instagram is a photo sharing app that lets users apply faux vintage filters to any pictures they take. It’s really as simple as that. But the app has absolutely blown up on iOS, and Android users want a piece.

Speaking at LeWeb 2011, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom confirmed that two out of his six man team of Instagram employees is working on bringing the Android version of Instagram to market. In an interview with the Guardian, Systrom revealed more.

It's hugely important to us, but we're only six people. Android is a major priority for us, but first we have to build the team, and find the best people in the world to work on these projects.Kevin SystromInstagram

There’s still no timeline for release, but Systrom is currently hiring engineers and developers in order to speed things along.

What do you think, are you dying to give Instagram for Android a shot, or has Systrom and company missed the boat?

No your not the only one, although it seems to be a nice app and it’s having its moment in the spotlight right now I don’t see Instagram anymore than just a fad that will probably die off when the next “cool” camera app hits app stores. When it does come to Android I’ll download it and try it out but I don’t see what all the excitement is myself.

I can attest to something similar. An old classmate of mine actually picked up an iPhone when his contract expired because he couldn’t have Instagram on his Droid :( Never thought one app could weigh so much on a phone choice…

The main thing Instagram has going for it is the user base. I use Lightbox (which I absolutely love), but the same way I can play Words With Friends with iOS users, I’ll probably end up using Instagram just for its shear reach. Cross-platform is the way to go. Apps for everyone!

Yes, Vignette and the countless other apps he can choose from. I think Instagram for him is a “namebrand”, and the others are just “generic.” Now that I’m thinking about it, he’s probably more suited for that iPhone for making decisions on trivial things like that. Ha!

I think the point is that devs of popular iOS titles are finally realizing the 65mil Android/17mil iOS device split in market place and that it would not take much market penetration to make their iOS revenue and they already have name recognitioans a successful product. It’s a recipe for greater successful . I caution iOS devs to EMBRACE the Android UI experience, especially ICA… as I see many people on the marketplace giving bad ratings to “tired iOS” p

I think the point is that devs of popular iOS titles are finally realizing the 65mil Android/17mil iOS device split in market place and that it would not take much market penetration to make their iOS revenue and they already have name recognitioans a successful product. It’s a recipe for greater successful . I caution iOS devs to EMBRACE the Android UI experience, especially ICA… as I see many people on the marketplace giving bad ratings to “tired iOS ports”

I think the point is devs of popular iOS titles are finally realizing the 65mil Android/17mil iOS device split in market place and that it would not take much Android market penetration to match their iOS revenue and they already have name recognition and a successful product. It’s a recipe for greater success. I caution iOS devs to EMBRACE the Android UI experience, especially as ICS rolls out.. as I see many people on the marketplace giving bad ratings to “tired iOS ports”

Regardless of whether you like the idea of the app or not, when released it will be a great thing for Android. The occasional media (newspapers/tv/etc.) is even telling folks to tag their Instragram photos for inclusion on web sites, leaving out Android users.

Regardless of whether you like the idea of the app or not, when released it will be a great thing for Android. The occasional media (newspapers/tv/etc.) is even telling folks to tag their Instagram photos for inclusion on web sites, leaving out Android users.

I can’t wait till it comes to Android! I’ve been looking for an Instagram alternative for a while now, and I’ve yet to find one I really like. Go Photo is somewhat close, so I guess I’ll use that until Instagram for Android is released.

Try out picplz, it was one of the few psudo-instagram apps that does pretty much exactly what instagram does, except turn the filtered pictures into squares. I like sending my pictures to tumblr and twitter through it, it also uploads them to my dropbox so they don’t take up space in my gallery.

Sounds like a good app however just noticed that the stock mytouch 4g has all the options this app has. Then again with our great android software we should not need to get an app to do that. Way to think outside the box Google. Include it all

no impressed… Way I see it , I can apply that vintage filter and many other filters with a wide range of different apps. I also, find it kind of laughable that Instagram is IOS app of the year. Doesnt say much for their apps.

A part of me is looking forward to this, the other part doesn’t care and just wants it to stay with Apple people so I don’t have to hear, “we had Instagram first, nah-nah”

I have a few filters on my myTouch 4G, Had the phone for over a year, and used the filters about twice. The first time was a few weeks ago putting up the tree. It was a good pic, I really liked it, but still.. meh, I’m a regular picture kind of guy.

This is great news
its the not the camera application for all the haters that spam these comments.
Its the social integration. And most android phones have issues with camera software.
Instagram would be a great plus.

Oh well there are quite a few alternatives in the market, and i dun get why it can be the app of the year for ios… tried it b4 and its not that impressive.. i mean its a really good app but people just think they can make their pics look professional by using this app

Who wants a piece?.. Vignette has done this forever and it is an excellent app. It would be cool to have options but who cares. The article is misleading .. Android can share with better apps than instagram. The only reason is so big in iphone is because the sharing capabilities on IOS are limited.

I really think they waited way too long to get on board the Android train. So many other apps have done what they could to replace the missing app, like Retro Camera+, and while it’s not perfect, it works really well, takes the picture as a square (so it still works with Postagram) and gives a great look.
Plus then ICS has most of those kinds of effects included, so with a faster shutter time, many may not even end up using 3rd part apps anymore.

On android I’ve very happily been using Streamzoo for a couple of months and it is available for iPhone & Android users alike. Noticeably there are more users coming across from Instagram, should instagram be listening to their users and improve it before opening up to cross platform.
Streamzoo has great filters, user generated tags and a good community.

Has Systrom missed the boat?
It’s a late departure but boarding will certainly be full. Instagram is big enough for users to flock to it regardless of timing.

It’s not really about the filters, it’s much more of the social networking aspect of it all. It’s like twitter for pictures and a lot of the time, android users are left out of what our friends deem worthy to share.

Honestly, I believe Instagram is coming too little, too late to the Android party. ICS will have the same “hipster” filters on Android devices before Instagram will even hit beta. Already a number of programs & services do this already. It’s been estimated that Instagram will get their app out by fall in 2012. This gives competing services approximately 11 months to step up their game & to add services to distinguish itself from Instagram.

My advice to the Android community is don’t hold your breath on Instagram. Lets embrace something that’s uniquely Android home grown, that offers far better services, & makes the porting of Instagram look lame. Instead of chasing the Johnny Come Lately of iOS, lets pump up native Android apps first & make iOS users want Android apps. I’m so sick of developers treating Android as second class citizens. Android will eventually surpass the number of iOS devices & users. Android apps should be co-developed or developed first. Eventually the number of users will make Android just too irresistible to continue to treat as 2nd best.

Glad they’re finally admitting that they’re out of the most important mobile platform nowadays. I couldn’t care less about Instagram – not a fan of spamming my friends with photos filled with fancy filters – but they *are* missing out. Clever move, albeit a bit late.

I guess I have being leaving under a rock for the past year cuz I didn’t know anything about Instagram until now lol. Most of my mobile pics end up on my computer anyways but will be glad to check this out when it comes out.

Glad they finally decided to get around to making an Android version, after seeing it wasn’t in the works I started using picplz which does the same thing Instagram does but without making my pictures a square. When it comes out I’ll probably give it a try, but it’s going to have to be awesome to make me switch.

Definitely late to the party, and with ICS bringing built in filters, entry into the Android marketplace seems risky to me. Especially when the vast majority of Earthlings use Facebook (compared to other social nets). Then again, I could be wrong. Don’t quote me on that.

Correct me if im wrong but doesnt Android have a bunch of apps that can apply much cooler filters than this ? seems bland and boring to me “hey dude lets make our pics look old, whoaaaa” sounds like something that would be voted APP of the year on IOS, lol

I just don’t get the community aspect of Instagram…sure put some effects on your photos but yet another place to share stuff???? Between FB and Google+ I am done looking for ways to put myself out there.

When people post photos from Instagram on FB for example, it takes me out of FB to view it – what a pain in the bum…I don;t want to be getting taken to yet another site just to see a photo.

Honestly, I don’t really get it. There’s nothing new about being able to put filters on images, vignette has been offering that ability for ages, and my old HTC Desire can with it built into the gallery too. It’s not something I’d ever use a lot, I think it’s kind of overrated.

Why do people like this. I never understood why you can’t just take a picture and uploaded it to Twitpic, or Flickr, or Imageshack or any of the other countless hosting sites. Is it because people like the awful “old timey” effect?

Hahahah :) I love the discussion above. As one mentioned above: crossplatform is the way to go. Because people won’t choose the best app, they choose the one that most of their friends have, so they can share everything with all their friends.